The Trentoniana Local History and Genealogy Collection is a library-based special collection of historic memorabilia in Trenton, New Jersey. Held by the Trenton Free Public Library Board of Trustees, the collection contains books, manuscripts, ephemera, visual and audio media, and artifacts, with particular focus on local history and genealogical materials.
Although the Trenton Public Library dates back to 1750, the current organization was founded in 1900. In 1909,[1] the founding Trustees declared their intention to build a special collection on Trenton's history.
Items in the collection include:
Trentoniana's collection of more than 200,000 images of the city and its citizens includes tintypes, glass plate negatives, lantern slides, vintage postcards, cabinet cards, black and white photographic prints, 35 mm color slides and digital images.
In addition to newspaper clippings, annual reports, and promotional materials, Trentoniana’s holdings document the city's business history, including expense and payroll ledgers, business correspondence, letterhead and logo collections and samples of some of the many Trenton-made products that launched the motto, “Trenton Makes, the World Takes,” including pottery, watches, tile, iron rope, and a Horsman doll.
Trentoniana has also become the designated repository for the archival collections of many local organizations, including the Trenton Lions, YMCA, the Trenton Historical Society, the Mill Hill Society, Trenton Rotary, and the Jewish Historical Society of the Greater Trenton Area.
While resources in the collection do not circulate, materials may be viewed by the public at the library.